In order to understand the value of a GRE score, it is helpful to know the percentile ranking assigned to that particular score. The percentile ranking expresses the percentage of the test-taking population that receive scores below a particular score. Therefore, the higher the percentile ranking, the more competitive the score. The following table shows the range of possible verbal and quantitative scaled scores and the percentile rankings assigned to those scores.

Percentages of Examinees Tested from
January 1999 through December 2001 (Including Repeaters)
Who Scored Below Specified Total Scores

Scaled Score

Verbal

Quantitative

800

99

92

780

99

87

760

99

83

740

99

79

720

98

74

700

96

70

680

95

66

660

93

62

640

90

57

620

87

53

600

84

48

580

80

44

560

75

40

540

70

35

520

65

32

500

59

27

480

54

24

460

48

20

440

42

17

420

36

14

400

30

12

380

25

9

360

20

7

340

15

5

320

10

4

300

6

3

280

3

2

260

1

1

240

1

220

200

Source: Educational Testing Service. Guide to the Use of GRE Scores, (2002).

While the total scaled scores range from 200 to 800, approximately two-thirds of test-takers score between 360 and 600 in verbal and between 420 and 760 in quantitative. Although the verbal and quantitative sections are both scored on the same scale, the percentile associated with an individual score in the verbal section may be different from the percentile associated with the same score in the quantitative section. For example, a verbal scaled score of 540 places a student in the 70th percentile for that section. A quantitative scaled score of 540, however, only places the student in the 37th percentile for that section.

Based on the performance of examinees who testedbetween October 1, 2002, and November 30, 2002

Score Levels

Percentage of Examinees Scoring
Lower than AW Score Levels

6.0

94

5.5

82

5.0

65

4.5

45

4.0

27

3.5

15

3.0

8

2.5

5

2.0

3

1.5

3

1.0

3

0.5

3

0

0

Over 90% of test-takers score at least a 3 on the AW scale. Since the essays need to be sent to readers in order to be graded, students cannot view their AW scores on the same day that they take the test. Students who choose to keep their scores receive an official GRE score report via regular mail approximately two weeks later. The AW score is included in this score report.